Blair vows to end animal terrorism

Tony Blair condemned the "appalling" activities of anti-vivisection extremists and re-affirmed the Government's support for animal testing.

The Prime Minister pledged to do all that was necessary to root out the criminal minority behind the campaign of terror.

Mr Blair, writing in The Sunday Telegraph, said the Government would also consult on plans to keep shareholders' names secret to protect medical research which has saved hundreds of millions of lives.

The proposal comes after extremists threatened shareholders in drugs company GlaxoSmithKline they would have their names published on the internet unless they sold their shares.

The Prime Minister's intervention also follows the imprisonment on Thursday of four people who ran a six-year hate campaign against the owners of a guinea pig farm, culminating in the theft of a pensioner's body from her grave.

Mr Blair wrote: "The appalling details of the campaign of intimidation - which include grave robbing - show the depths to which the animal extremists are prepared to stoop.

"We will also consult further on exempting companies from providing full public details of shareholders in future.

"If more measures are needed to protect individuals, universities and firms or to root out the criminal extremist fringe, we will provide them."

The Prime Minister said that British scientists and companies were in the forefront of medical research and made a "huge contribution to human health and well-being", while creating thousands of highly-skilled jobs. "They deserve our thanks, support and protection."

Mr Blair also said that he intends, in a rare move for any minister, to sign the People's Petition in support of animal testing in Britain.